Ilya Bryzgalov's run as the Flyers' goalie has run its course, as the team announced it will use a compliance buyout on him. / James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports

by Dave Isaac, USA TODAY Sports

by Dave Isaac, USA TODAY Sports

Wearing his trademarked black sweatshirt with a team logo on the right side of his chest and a collar that reaches taller than his neck, Holmgren picked up the phone and heard his goalie, Ilya Bryzgalov, on the other end.

A while ago, the Flyers general manager planned to have a 10 a.m. meeting with the man he signed to a nine-year, $51 million contract only two years ago.

Bryzgalov, having just returned to the area late Monday night after taking a vacation with his family, needed an extension.

"Sure," Holmgren told his goalie.

At 11:30, Bryzgalov rolled up to the Flyers' Skate Zone practice facility in Voorhees where his vacation came to an abrupt halt.

Holmgren told the 33-year-old Russian that when the Flyers are allowed to use their compliance buyouts, starting 11 p.m. Wednesday night, they'll pull the trigger and end Bryzgalov's contract seven years early.

"I don't think he was shocked," Holmgren said. "He took it in stride like a good pro."

On the ice and off, Bryzgalov's first two years with the Flyers have been rocky. In his first season in Philly, Bryzgalov had a 2.48 goals-against average and .909 save percentage in 59 games.

He is also known for his off-ice comments that have, at times, overshadowed his play. In his first season with the Flyers, Bryzgalov claimed to be lost in the woods, said he felt the goal cage behind him was as big as a soccer net and starred in HBO's documentary series 24/7.

This past season, he was caught in a controversy over whether he dozed off in a team meeting and torched reporters for not being professional in their reporting. On the ice, in a lockout-shortened 48-game season, his numbers dipped to a 2.79 goals-against average and .900 save percentage.

That, according to Holmgren, had nothing to do with ending the marriage after two seasons that paid Bryzgalov $21.5 million when signing bonuses are accounted for.

"I think Ilya's a colorful guy," Holmgren said. "Does he make dumb comments sometimes and get off on tangents sometimes? Yeah, but I think deep down he's a good guy and I know he's a good goalie. That's what makes this difficult.

"This is strictly a business decision."

The Flyers will pay Bryzgalov two-thirds of the remaining money he's owed, which ends up being $23 million. They have 14 years to do so, which ends up being $1.63 million per year until 2027. In the mean time, Bryzgalov's $5.66 million cap hit comes off their books. The Flyers will be $4,181,478 under next year's salary cap of $64.3 million according to capgeek.com.

Last week, the Flyers announced they would buy out the contract of 35-year-old center Danny Briere. That buyout, like Bryzgalov's, becomes official late Wednesday night.

"I think Danny spent six years here and was obviously a very popular player, a very good player for us," Holmgren said. "That was extremely difficult for me, personally. With Ilya, even though in two years you get to know a guy pretty good, this was strictly business."

That leaves the Flyers to turn to Steve Mason, who played seven games since being traded to Philadelphia at the deadline. He was 4-2-0 with a 1.90 goals-against average and .944 save percentage this season in orange and black.

"I'm a big Steve Mason fan," Holmgren said. "Even the games we lost, he played well. Ideally, I'd like to get a guy that will work in tandem with him, with the bulk (of the work) going to Steve, but we'll see how that goes.